The aftermath of the death of Jesus was not an easy one for His disciples and many of his known fans.
To continue the work of evangelization, they had to come out of their hiding under the influence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit to spread out in groups to the ends of the earth, to preach the good news.
With no hope for good food, shelter and livelihood, the work on default would be tedious, stressful and risky. But their "nightmares" were yet to surface.
Many were brutalised, hated, attacked and killed at some point, same way with Jesus during His earthly life.
A snippet of the persecutions the disciples faced was found in the book of acts of the apostles (Acts 16, 1-10) where the Holy Spirit itself had to lead Paul and Co against the tyranny and wickedness of the lands where they intend to preach.
Acts 16, 1-10
They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory
because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit
from preaching the message in the province of Asia.
When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia,
but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,
so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.
During the night Paul had a vision.
A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words,
"Come over to Macedonia and help us."
When he had seen the vision,
we sought passage to Macedonia at once,
concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
WERE THEY PREPARED FOR IT?
Jesus himself had sounded the message of warning, encouragement and strength to the disciples beforehand:
Gospel JN 15:18-21
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.
Remember the word I spoke to you,
'No slave is greater than his master.'
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
And they will do all these things to you on account of my name,
because they do not know the one who sent me."
These words had helped them seek grace to understand the importance of pain, troubles and trials in life and especially in the business of spreading the gospel.
IS PERSECUTION THE PRICE OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP?
"Persecution" according to the dictionary means:
hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression.
Looking at the "Church" today, we can affirm that it's (the church's) growth and extension was catalysed by the series of persecution endured by the early Christians. The world we live in remains ever adamant against the acceptance of salvation for fear of being converted or transformed. This leaves the modern Christians with the charge to continue the "good work".
BUT HOW READY ARE WE TO PAY THIS PRICE?
Most Pastors and Preachers of our generation are failing in their task to lead the children of God according to the layed down standards set by Jesus Christ himself. Or perhaps, they themselves lack the needed training or quality to lead and thus, they mislead their members by preaching the gospel of "prosperity" alone, jettison the fact that it (prosperity) should be a mere reward after labour, for Christ said "seek ye first the kingdom and other will be added".
This makes many lazy in propagating God's words and striving to live a perfect and holy life. Some will even say the God they serve never suffered, forgetting or rather abandoning the way of the cross as spelt out by Jesus Christ himself.
Friends, it's time to wake from all slumber and deceit of our world. The way of the cross is but a narrow and tedious way, never an easy one. But in it we find strength, growth, true peace and eternal life.
We must continually seek to be Christians, not just by words, but by our actions.
Let us ask the Lord for the grace and strength to do his will, no matter how hard.
Oh that today you listen to His voice, harden not your heart!
May God bless His words in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Thanks as you read and share.
I'm @tomfreeman!